Lake Twp.: Grant sought for improving Libbey Road

Written by Larry Limpf

February 11, 2014

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The Lake Township trustees heard a report Tuesday from Dan McLargin, road supervisor, that an application for a grant to pay for replacing a stretch of Libbey Road has been submitted to the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.

The department announced late last year it is accepting applications for funding from the Turnpike Mitigation Program, which was established to assist communities that are adversely affected by turnpike traffic. Projects being considered include bridge preservation, resurfacing, noise walls, drainage improvements and other related infrastructure work.

Proposed projects must be within one mile of the turnpike. The program will allocate about $5 million annually to projects with a cap of $1 million on individual projects.

McLargin said it would cost about $140,000 to replace 240 feet of the road west of I-420 near exit 71 of the turnpike.

He said the road was repaired about seven years ago but its condition has deteriorated because of the volume of traffic using the exit and Libbey Road.

About 5,000 trucks a day use the exit, McLargin said, citing a traffic survey conducted a few years ago.

Truck purchaseOvertime costs for snow removal and other related expenses are having an impact on how Lake Township will pay for a new dump truck.

The purchase will require revenues from the general fund because the cost of road salt and over-time costs for department personnel have strained another fund dedicated to road improvements, the township trustees were told Tuesday.

The trustees, by a 2-1 vote, authorized the purchase of a 2014 Freightliner for $129,500 from a Lima, O. dealership and agreed to a recommendation by Vicki Schwamberger, fiscal officer, to make a down payment of $29,500 and finance the balance over three years.

Schwamberger said the cost of snow removal and other expenses this year have strained the balance of the road fund

The new truck will replace a 1994 International that broke down recently. Dan McLargin, road supervisor, said two estimates for repairing it were about $10,000 and $20,000.

Trustee Jeff Pettit voted against the resolution to purchase a new truck, saying the township should get three bids for repairs, but later voted with trustees Melanie Bowen and Richard Welling to adopt Schwambergers’ recommendation on how to pay for it.

The purchase has been discussed at two other meetings as the trustees weighed the pros and cons of repairing the old truck versus buying new.

McLargin said crews plow more than 70 miles of township roads during the winter and trucks are often idling during other work. He said the old truck can be kept and used for parts.

Insurance discussedAfter meeting in executive session for two hours, the trustees voted unanimously to increase the share for health insurance contributions for non-union employees to 12 per cent from 10.

The change affects all covered employees who aren’t members of the police department; the only unionized employees of the township.

The trustees also discussed cemetery personnel and how the cemetery should be staffed after sexton Gary Schulte retires but took no action. Schulte, who’s been sexton for 27 years and employed by the township for 30, recently informed the trustees he plans to retire.

undocumented

Should undocumented immigrants, brought to the U.S. as children, also known as "Dreamers," be allowed to stay in the U.S.?

Yes. They consider the U.S. their home

No. They should be deported, then apply for citizenship the legal way.

Yes. With conditions. They have a job or going to school, pay back taxes, and are contributing to society.

Yes. They consider the U.S. their home
(6 Votes)

37.5%

No. They should be deported, then apply for citizenship the legal way.
(2 Votes)

12.5%

Yes. With conditions. They have a job or going to school, pay back taxes, and are contributing to society.
(8 Votes)

50%

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